Veterinarian arrested for shooting and killing neighbor's dog

The investigation quickly centered on the next-door neighbor of the family that owned the dog.

Author:
Caresse Jackman

Published:
10:53 PM CST December 19, 2017

Updated:
10:53 PM CST December 19, 2017

RIVER RIDGE - A local veterinarian has been arrested after she shot and killed a neighbor's dog because she said it barked too much and was aggressive.

Kelly Folse, 35, was booked for aggravated cruelty to animals, illegal discharge of a firearm, and possession of Schedule II and IV drugs.

According to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, officers responded to a veterinary hospital on Dec. 13 after receiving a report of a dog that had been shot in the head. The 15-month old American bull dog named 'Bruiser' was severely injured and eventually died on Dec. 14.

The investigation quickly centered on the next-door neighbor of the family that owned the dog. The sheriff's office said that Folse made numerous prior threats towards the dog because she thought it barked too much and she alleged it was aggressive. Investigators said they did not find any evidence that the dog had been aggressive.

"This is crazy," Sheriff Lopinto said. "I don't know what world we are living on where this is okay. Whether this is you, me or anybody else; for a vet. I mean, give me a break people," he said.

"We can all complain about someone's barking dog, but this is over the top," he continued.

During a search of Folse's home, deputies found two different types of narcotics, one of which they believe Folse obtained through a prescription for her pets.

Mike Giangroso lives in the neighborhood and tried to help the injured animal.

"The dog was still alive he was still active and everything. So we took a blanket and put him in a blanket and we put him in the back of the pickup truck so we could bring him to the veterinarian," Giangroso said.

Deputies said Folse worked at the veterinary hospital that treated Bruiser, but said that she was not involved in its care. Scott Abide is the owner of the facility.

"The vision of Brusier, the way he was will stay with me forever," Scott Abadie said. "He had a bullet hole in the back of his head. An entry hole. And it came out through his right eye."

Abide says the entire ordeal came as a shock.

"Our clients loved her. I mean she worked at Arno with the Rescue Group. She'd worked here. We do a lot with rescue groups. And the rescue groups all loved her," Abadie said.

Abadie said he terminated Folse the same day Brusier passed away.

"The owner of Brusier had text messages from her that were just totally inappropriate and disgusting, saying things about Brusier. So that gave us the first clue to it. And later that morning there was some statements made about the dog that did not sit well with the technicians and myself and we just told her to leave right there," Abadie said.

Now all Abadie can think of is the tremendous loss of a young pup and the family that loved him so much.

"The fact that somebody can do something like that is devastating. The fact that it was a veterinarian. A vegetarian. Somebody that works with rescue animals is just beyond comprehension," Abadie said.

Lopinto said there are no other complaints against Folse of animal cruelty at this time, however the investigation is ongoing.

"This is not what veterinarians do," Lopinto said.

The family of Folse reached out to WWL-TV Tuesday night saying the allegations against her are outrageous and that Folse is and has always been an animal lover.